Posted on: Mon, 08/11/2008 - 04:20
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"Have you quit smoking?"
When does a smoker become an ex-smoker? It has been 48 days since I last smoked a cigarette. Why is it that when someone asks me if I have quit smoking, I still say “I’m trying"? At what point will I say “Yes, I quit smoking”? It's almost like I'm giving myself an out in case I relapse.
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TLIF L4-L5 6/25
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If you've made it 48 days, then I think its safe to say that you are now an ex-smoker. However, you will always be a nicotine addict. As long as you never forget that, and never let the drug back into your system, then you'll remain an ex-smoker.
8/5/08 C5/C6 ACDF with Titanium Plate
No brace
Cyclobenzaprine & Toradol as needed
For me, it's actually very easy to quit smoking. The hard part is to quit for more than an hour. So, I'd say you are now an ex-smoker! And my hero! Congratulations!
Jeaux
'Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you..... Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom'
Broad-based midline posterior C5-6 herniation with cervical cord rotation counterclockwise, C6-7 herniation both with moderate degree thecal sac impingmnt; Milder C4-5 herniation (with mod. degree midine thecal sac encroachment); Mild midline C3-4 Left paracentral C2-3 disc bulges; Mild posterior T2-3 disc bulge; Suspected Adenoma of Left thyroid gland; S/P right hemilaminectomy (2/06) at L5-S1 with postsurgical changes, scar tissue around the S1 nerve root as well as circumferential osteophyte impingement of the foramen floor bilaterally; disc bulge at L4-5 and mild degenerative changes of the facet joints. Schnorl's node L1-2 (posterior endplate eccentric to the right). But this may all be because I am depressed....
Here is my 5 cents on that.
Ex-smoker? Not when someone tells you X days of non-smoking. Do you feel like you are an ex-smoker yet Yvonne? I do. I'm 275 days in. Never really thought of which day I decided that.
Quit. Stop. I have stopped smoking. Not sure I quit though. I'm a drug addict and my drug of choice is nicotine. 1 cigarette and I'm done in. Every day I make an effort not to smoke. That is 1 more day that is a good thing.
Call yourself whatever you want. Use terms like ex-smoker, stop, and quit how you see fit. Just keep on doing what you are doing and leave the cigarettes alone. That is all that counts.
Good luck you ex-smokers who stopped and want to quit
Never mind world peace. How about using your turn signals !!!
Thanks guys for your responses. I really appreciate the support.
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
Bellisima!!!
I am very proud of you
When us SH girls take our cruise, you'll have enough dough to get the deluxe suite with a veranda !!
Any work great.
I'm trying isn't QUIT. I'm a non-smoker, but I'm feeling much better now!
1 year 2 months. Damn sounds like I'm a non-smoker now....
Just don't ask where the money has gone then I'll freak out and fall off the Camel wondering where its hiding
Daniel W Darling USN Active
L4-S1 Discectomy Jun 06
C6-C7 Ant/Fusion Nov 07
Awaiting L4-S1 Multi-level Fusion
From Expierence! NOT A SPECIALIST! Consult with a PHYSICIAN!
So today is 300 days. Not too shabby.
Somewhere about day 290 or so I had a relapse. Really bad day. Drank a lot. Not a good mix. Had a couple of cigarettes. Honestly they tasted like crap and it was rather uninteresting. So much for the dessert idea... Haven't thought about doing it again. Just one of those days.
Never mind world peace. How about using your turn signals !!!
I had a dream last night I smoked an ENTIRE cigarette!!!! But I remember feeling so guilty. Go figure.
TLIF L4-L5 6/25
Both my wife and I quit on the same day, doesn't seem like that long ago, but it's been over 6 years now! I'll never forget the date: July 27, 2002. Woo Hoo!
We signed up for hypnosis and I was a huge skeptic. I don't know how much of an effect it actually had, but both of us haven't touched a cigarette since. It was a group setting and at a break the hypnotist told everyone to smoke if they want because it will be the last. So we did -- smoked our last cigarette during the break & tossed our half-full packs on the way back inside! Ha! In all seriousness, I can say that we were both just "done" with smoking and I think that mindset had the biggest influence on us. Also, I'm pretty sure if both of us didn't quit at the same time we'd have failed.
Good luck to all, it can be done!!!
Jay
My personal feeling on when you become an ex-smoker is when you dont feel the need to smoke. In my experience and from friends experience the cravings never fully go away. My father in law quit smoking 40 years ago roughly. He still gets cravings once in a while. When you get the place where you dont think about smoking and dont feel like you HAVE to HAVE a cigarette and you only have the occasional craving, and you still dont smoke. Then I would call you an ex-smoker.